The Gede Ruins, located near Watamu on the Kenyan coast, are the remains of an ancient and prosperous Swahili trading town that was mysteriously abandoned centuries ago. Nestled within the lush Arabuko-Sokoke coastal forest, these ruins represent one of the most important archaeological sites in East Africa.Likely founded around the 12th century, Gede reached its peak between the 15th and 16th centuries. The town was a thriving center of trade, as evidenced by the numerous artifacts discovered during excavations: Chinese porcelain from the Ming dynasty, Venetian glass, coins from various parts of the world, and Indian lamps. This testifies to a sophisticated trade network that connected the Swahili coast with Asia and Europe.